I finished a donation top and back over the weekend. I thought I had posted something about this, but I couldn’t find the post. I think I must have only posted on Twitter and Instagram about it.
I wanted to use up the Flower Sugar fabrics from Lecien that I used for the Flower Sugar Hexagon (Attack of the Hexies) quilt. I thought a donation quilt would be a good opportunity.
I really want to make donation quilts that can be used for boys, but I also, as I said, wanted to use up this fabric. I don’t think I will use this fabric again, except for some of the blues, perhaps, which I really like. Also, the fabric isn’t really great in terms of quality. Some parts of the fabrics were sun damaged waiting to be used despite the fact that they were covered.
The other fabric I don’t think I will use again was some of the greys from a couple of recent-ish Bonnie and Camille collections. They turned out to be too taupe-y for my projects, so off they go to donation quilts.
I will making the binding and then bring this to the meeting to be quilted. I will see if I have enough batting parts to make a Franken-batting as well.
The BAMQG Hawaiian quilts are still in process. Several have been delivered to the family and they were beyond thrilled. The rest are due by the end of August.
A few weeks ago Kelly and I met for lunch. She gave me one that needed to be bound. In the thick of my injury I couldn’t do it right away and it languished. Angela needed to send me the binding, so I didn’t worry. She did and it was time to get to work.
Last weekend was the weekend of little projects: strip for the Food Quilt #2 back strip, journal cover, Stepping Stones blocks, a lanyard, etc. I added the Hawaiian Quilt binding to the list.
Emboldened by last effort at machine binding, I did a machine binding again as well. Also, with my hand in a brace, hand stitching takes abut 15x as long. Angela and Kelly were fine with the machine binding so I was off.
I did a much simpler machine binding this time. I just used a straight stitch on the back rather than a decorative stitch. The stitching shows on the binding, but isn’t obvious on the front, which is great.
Trimming for binding
The quilt came to me untrimmed, so I put the binding on and then trimmed. I used my regular Aurifil #2600 piecing thread to sew the binding on the front. It did not blend, but would be covered once the binding was flipped so I didn’t worry.
It occurs to me now that I could have trimmed, put the binding on the back and then flipped the binding to the front. I might try that next time just to see how it looks.
Hawaiian Quilt Back
These are very bright and cheerful quilts. I am really pleased to be able to help the guild work on them.
Really, the only thing Amanda is getting out of me in terms of this cat bed is scraps. She made the cat bed and all I did was transfer my overflowing scrap bag into it. That is certainly something, but I have to get myself in gear to made some more cat beds for her.
It is pretty and I do like the fabric combination Amanda chose.
There never seems to be a shortage in people who need a nice hug in the form of a quilt. I made three blocks for two different projects over the weekend.
I started the stars weeks ago by making Sawtooth Stars with a four patch in the middle. I made one when I did the Star Sampler and really liked it. The problem with the version for this lovey was that I tried to use the Deb Tucker ruler AND include the 4 patches in the middle. It was too difficult for my brain to process.
For a few weeks I did nothing, but when I got the call for the heart lovey block and I knew I had to get my act together and get those star blocks done. I decided just to make some basic Sawtooth Stars with super great fabric. I hope that these work out well.
Lovey Heart Block
I got an idea for a heart block as soon as I heard the maker wanted hearts. I knew that machine applique’ was the best way to go. Fast, too.
At first, I thought I would just do the large heart, but when I finished, I thought it wasn’t enough, so I added the blue hearts. They were made from scraps, but they added something to the large heart. I think the little hearts added interest.
If you are asked to make a block for a lovey quilt, please consider making one. One block and little bit of fabric can make all the difference in the world.
I finally got my act together to put the postage stamp blocks together. I really was feeling like I didn’t have anything to show at the BAMQG meeting, so I decided on Friday night to get these blocks together. I used leftover pieces from another quilt for the sashing. I really didn’t think about the piece too much; I just sewed. Yesterday morning I finished the border and made the back.
Gerre and I made them together back in February. We used them pieces as leaders and enders as needed when we made the Hawaiian quilt. I don’t see any mention of these blocks, so who really knows?
I wanted to try a different setting that the other versions of the postage stamp donation quilt tops I have made. I was going for a row quilt kind of look. I used different widths of sashing for the vertical pieces, because I used what I had. It isn’t my best work, but it was very intuitive and quick. I think that it was kind of amazing that I was able to let the control go and just put the piece together. You can see that there are squares of the same fabrics near each other. Normally, I would have spread them out. Essentially, I just put the blocks on the floor and sewed them together. Kind of bare bones sewing. I hope someone will like its quirkiness.
To be honest, I haven’t really sewn seriously for quite a while. I have sewn a couple of EPP stars and used the opportunity of this piece to make some more O9P nine patches, but nothing else. It felt really good to throw this together. Very freeing.
Multi-color Donation Quilt back (April)
The back is made from greys that I pulled out of my grey bin. They are older fabrics in the depressing color range of grey. Summer is coming and I find myself divesting myself of colors deemed too depressing and working with even brighter colors than usual.
We are embroiled in college business/drama/selection. Of course, I have other stuff going on as well, but the college stuff seems to be dominating at the moment. This means that my quilt work is suffering and, particularly, my donation and charity projects.
I finally did spend some time a week or so ago finishing this Hawaiian quilt for BAMQG. You might remember that Gerre and I worked on it at a Sew Day recently.
I blather on about testing new techniques and practicing skills on donation quilts then I never do it. I tried something new on this quilt. I tested out applying a binding by machine on both sides. My first effort resulting in me ripping out 3-4′, but I persevered and the quilt is bound by machine.
I made sure that Gerre and Angela were both ok with me doing the machine binding. It requires some more experimentation on my part, but I am pleased with my first effort.
BAMQG Hawaiian Quilt by Gerre & Jaye
None of the fabrics were my choices, but I like the brightness against the black and especially think the back came out well.
As usual, I am really happy to help the guild. As usual, the Young Man worked hard as my quilt hanger.
Yes, shockingly I finished something. It seems like it took forever! I know it didn’t take forever, because we made the top on January 4.
I made the back, as I mentioned, then I sent it off to Gerre with a Frankenbatting and she quilted it. I got it back and put the binding on. It really went very quickly once I sat down and sewed the binding. <It went much better than the quilt in front of it with a batik back AND binding. What was I thinking?>
The back came out pretty well and wasn’t a misery to put together. I am still uncomfortable not putting a label on these donation quilts, but I hope that documenting the quilt here will help historians some day. If the quilt is just loved to death then that will be enough.
Pink T Quilt back
I was able to use up some pinks and make a fun quilt. I am already thinking about what color to cut next. I am not a big fan of green, but I have a lot of green. If I cut orange to go with it, it would be really different and might appeal to someone who walks to the beat of a different drummer.
I finally finished the top and back of the Black & Grey Teenaged Boy Donation Quilt. Whew! I am very pleased and while I was anxious to get it done I never got to the point where I disliked the piece. I am glad, because I want all of my donation quilts to have good energy in them not “get this done, stupid quilt!” energy. I don’t know if it makes a difference, but better safe than sorry.
I checked back and the first post about this quilt was back in January of last year. I know I started making it using these colors, because I was grieving for my grandmother. I think I became anxious to get it finished, because the grief, while not gone, is much better. I think she would be pleased to know that I did something good with the grief. Perhaps not as she didn’t think too deeply about feelings, but I like to think it.
The quilt is approximately 65.5″ square.
Black & Grey Donation Back Complete
I also made the back, which I think came out pretty well. Sort of symmetrical, which is different for me. It is a touch small, so I may have to add something to the side, but I am hoping the quilter can deal with it.
I am not sure how I am going to convince someone to quilt it for the guild. I am nervous because there were a lot of quilts waiting to be quilted at the last meeting.
I still have to make the binding, but I picked some fabric to use and will get that done soon.
I realized when I looked back at the various posts related to this project that I have been working on it since January of 2014. That is a long time.
I have made progress since last week. The sashing and cornerstones are sewn to all of the blocks and I have started to put the blocks together. Yes, I am definitely using chunking, though it is a little challenging since I used part of the quilt for the chunking tutorial. An hour here and 15 minutes there really make a difference. I can’t believe how much it has shrunk since the I first put all the blocks on the design wall.
I made more progress on the Black & Grey Teenaged Boy Donation Quilt. I have about 13 more blocks to which to sew sashing, then I can start sewing the blocks together.
I know the photo doesn’t look that different from when I posted earlier in the week. I really have made progress. I have made progress by sewing a few bits at a time. It is amazing how much I can get done doing that. It is a little irritating, though to be constantly interrupted. Still, duty calls.
I hope to be able to show you a nearly finished top by the time next weekend rolls around. We’ll see since I won’t have much time to sew next weekend either.
I went to the BAMQG Sew Day last Saturday. We had a great time making Hawaiian themed quilts. We made 10 tops and 5 backs. Kelly was on back detail, so she did most of them while others of us did the tops.
5 Hawaiian Quilts
These quilts are for a family who lost their beloved mother/grandmother recently. The fabrics are from her stash and some from curtains and her mumus. All are Hawaiian prints.
Our Work
Gerre and I worked together. Gerre was already sewing away when I got there. I stepped in and began ironing and pinning and we ended up making the top (left).
Angela arranged the whole project and picked the pattern. I was grateful that it was pretty easy. She is great that way and figured out fast that if we wanted to get these done this century they should be easy. Also, as Frances says, the Muggles don’t know.
I don’t think this is a terrible pattern at all and I don’t mean to imply that it is. Simplicity is wonderful. The black/dark grey really sets off the bright Hawaiian fabric. I think that people who are unfamiliar with the process can appreciate simpler patterns much better. Not that they aren’t capable, but if you don’t sew, it is hard to appreciate the work that goes into something complicated.
Gerre & Jaye in contemplation
Gerre and I did have to contemplate our piece. We wanted some variety in the fabric despite all the orange we had to work with. The picture above shows the piece laid out on our design floor right before we were were going to sew the sashing.
Hawaiian Back
The backs were pieced with big pieces and they came out fun, because of the motifs on the large Hawaiian prints.
Once the backs were made, Angela distributed batting and Gerre and I moved on to Postage Stamp blocks. We made 16 and I will piece them into another donation top.
This back was made by Peggy and I like the combination of the diamond pattern and the large leaves.
Some people will take the quilts home to finish then bring them back for others to quilt.
Gerre is going to quilt ours while I bind the Pink T quilt, then she will give me the Hawaiian quilt and I will bind that one. She has a goal of quilting a certain number of charity quilts this year and I intend to help her! We work very well together and it is great to have a sewing buddy at Sew Day.
Our own personal Girl Scout
We also had our own personal girl Scout present. She came to keep us supplied with cookies. I think she also took an interest in our sewing. We have to tempt the young ones and Amanda is doing a good job on that account.
I am finishing up a BIG report at work. I only have a few hours left on my contract, so I sent off the draft to my client and then closed it up and didn’t look at it anymore. I felt like I had reached a stopping point where I had done enough work and could be rewarded.
So, I sewed.
Black & Grey Donation Quilt pre-sashing
I got busy putting the sashing on the Black & Grey Teenaged Boy Donation Quilt. I starting marching across the design wall sewing one seam at a time. I used the Stepping Stones blocks as my leaders and enders, so made double progress.
The first part of the chunking was sewing the cornerstones to the sashing and sewing the sashing to the blocks. There are a lot of cornerstones and a lot of sashing in this quilt. I am still working on both.
I am making progress, however and that is a good thing.
One of the things I made, as I mentioned were tissue covers. I took some of the Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 fabric I had leftover from the first Stepping Stones quilt and made some small things out of it. I just got a bug in my ear to use that fabric again. Not sure why.
I have a few more packs of tissues to fill some covers, so I may make a few more. We’ll see.
As an added bonus I found a piece of batting that I thought would be big enough, but it wasn’t so I spent some time last night, after the meeting and dragging the Young Man a Band performance, using the batting tape to make a piece of batting large enough. Gerre is willing to work with frankenbatting, so now the piece is ready to be sent to her.
Well, 2015 has barely started and I can already say that I had a hand in making a donation top.
Ooops! I have forgotten what the politically correct term is for donation quilt. I guess I didn’t listen to Pam’s podcast episode well enough.
Anyway.
BAMQG Sew Day was yesterday. I planned to go and had all of my cutting projects planned out to take when I thought of emailing Gerre to see if she would be there. Gerre and I made the Green T quilt together in the Great Charity Race last fall. We make a good team and Gerre makes me happy to be around.
Shockingly, she said no! It turns out that she was injured before Christmas had had been stuck at home since then and she didn’t feel like it. I cajoled and encouraged and bribed her with the prospect of working on another charity project with me. My thought was that she wouldn’t have to think about a project. She could just show up with her sewing machine.
It worked! Gerre decided to come and my job was to get fabric for another ‘T’ quilt together. We agreed that something cheerful was in order. I pulled out some pinks. I also pulled some beiges for the background that I wanted to use up anyway.
I arrived a little later than I intended (those PJs were nice and comfy). I started pressing and Gerre started cutting. The T quilts we made during the Great Charity Race were cut out. We found out how daunting the cutting can be. Once we passed that hurdle, I sewed the first seam and then pressed and Gerre sewed the rest as I pressed and handed her pieces.
Pink T Donation Quilt
The result is a cheerful quilt that we hope some lovely girl will enjoy. I don’t even think the beiges are very terrible.
Gerre has the piece, which is about 55″x45″. I will make the back and send it to her, she will quilt it, then I will bind it.
Gerre left much more cheerful and I got in over 5K steps running around, so it was a good day on many different levels.
